Michigan Football’s 10 Greatest Games

University of Michigan throughout it’s 130 years of Football there has been victory and defeat. There is a old saying one deserves not to lose but in sports one team falls just short. Michigan has the most wins in Divison I football. Also they have suffered defeat.

Every saturday the men that put on the Maize and Blue and 107,000 people that pack Michigan Stadium expects victory. Some Saturday’s…
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Forcier impresses record crowd at spring game

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Michigan had a record crowd for Saturday's spring game at Michigan Stadium, and the player fans most wanted to see appeared to perform well. 
Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier earned high marks from the early reports I've seen about the game. His day included a 60-yard touchdown to Roy Roundtree toward the end of the scrimmage.
"The…
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Michigan announces alumni game roster

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
In addition to taking flak for his team's poor performance on the field last fall, Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez drew criticism for what some called not making a strong enough connection to the program's history and tradition. 
Rodriguez is trying to bridge the gap with some exciting spring game events Saturday at Michigan Stadium. Fans…
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What’s on tap this week in the Big Ten

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Big Ten spring football gets into full swing this week, as the final three teams open practice. Only 12 days remain until the first and arguably most intriguing spring game, as Michigan wraps up drills April 11 at Michigan Stadium. Here's a snapshot of the final three squads to begin drills.
NORTHWESTERN First practice: Monday Big issue: The…
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Michigan Mailbag Question: Will Night Games Ever Happen at Michigan Stadium?

Eroc and coachBt,

I only just found your blog, but I really love it. I think you have some of the best analysis and closest ties to the program out of all the other blogs—from what I have seen. (I do not get into the “paid sites.”)

You may have seen that there is a very spirited debate going on now about night games on your GBMW. The idea really seems to be gaining traction among fans…
Continue reading at Bleacher Report – Big Ten Football

Michigan spring game back to Big House

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The renovation of Michigan Stadium won’t be completed until August 2010, but the Big House will play host to the football team’s annual spring game April 11. 

Construction forced last year’s spring game to be moved to nearby Saline High School, but head coach Rich Rodriguez announced Wednesday that the event will be back in the stadium. The Wolverines open spring drills March 14.

“We appreciate the effort of the construction crew to make the facility available to us and we hope that a large crowd will be able to attend,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “The opportunity to practice at the stadium and in front of fans is extremely valuable for our players.” 

Purdue also announced its spring game, which will be played April 18 at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Black & Gold game culminates Purdue’s first spring practice session, which kicks off March 25, under new head coach Danny Hope. 

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Big Ten year-end quarterback rankings

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Big Ten bowl season is nearly here, but with a few days to go, it’s time to begin the year-end position rankings. These won’t be quite as in-depth as the preseason rankings, but I’ll try to get to each position before the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5.

The rankings begin with arguably the Big Ten’s weakest position, quarterback. While signal callers from the Big 12 and SEC dominated the national spotlight, the Big Ten struggled under center, and several veteran quarterbacks backslid. There were some bright spots, especially at Penn State, but I can’t remember a season where the Big Ten was so poor at the game’s most critical position.

In case you forgot, here were my preseason rankings (what was I thinking?!?!). Note: I did not include first-year starters in this rundown.

	AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
	Daryll Clark led Penn State to an 11-1 record.

1. Kellen Lewis, Indiana
2. Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
3. Curtis Painter, Purdue
4. Juice Williams, Illinois
5. C.J. Bacher, Northwestern
6. Brian Hoyer, Michigan State
7. Adam Weber, Minnesota

And now for the year-end top 10.

1. Daryll Clark, Penn State — Clark exceeded expectations in his first season as the starter, mastering Penn State’s Spread HD system and helping the Nittany Lions to an 11-1 record and a Rose Bowl berth. He ranked second in the league in pass efficiency and threw 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 285 pass attempts.

2. Adam Weber, Minnesota – His numbers weren’t spectacular, but the Gophers sophomore did an excellent job of leading the offense and limiting mistakes. Minnesota’s offensive line had major problems, and without a viable run game, Weber once again shouldered much of the load. He showed tremendous toughness by returning to the field just six days after knee surgery and led Big Ten starters in completion percentage (62.8).

3. Juice Williams, Illinois – This was your Big Ten offensive MVP through the first half of the season. Williams set total offense records at the Edward Jones Dome, Michigan Stadium and Memorial Stadium. He led the Big Ten in passing and ranked third in quarterback rating. If not for a poor finish — nine interceptions in the final five games — Williams would have been higher on the list.

4. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State – There were undoubtedly some growing pains, but under the circumstances, Pryor exceeded expectations and fueled optimism for Ohio State’s future. Stepping into the starting job just four weeks into his college career, Pryor went 8-1 at the helm and helped the Buckeyes to a Big Ten co-championship. He still holds the ball too long at times and must become more consistent as a passer, but those things will come.

5. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa – Stanzi’s emergence down the stretch was the primary reason why Iowa finished so strong and reached a New Year’s Day bowl. Think about it. Shonn Greene was terrific all season, and so was the defense. But the quarterback position looked shaky until Stanzi emerged in October. He avoided an interception in four of Iowa’s final six games and threw 13 touchdown strikes.

6. Brian Hoyer, Michigan State — Hoyer overcame his struggles in close games and helped Michigan State to a 9-3 record and a third-place finish in the Big Ten. He came up huge against Michigan and led the game-winning drive against Wisconsin. Still, his unsightly stats can’t be totally overlooked. I just can’t get too excited about a guy who completed 50.8 percent of his passes and had only one more touchdown (9) than interception (8).

7. C.J. Bacher, Northwestern – Bacher deserves credit for playing some of his best football in Northwestern’s final two games, but the senior couldn’t eliminate the bad habits that dogged him throughout a career that featured plenty of passing yards. He threw as many interceptions (14) as touchdown passes for the second consecutive season and lacked the huge passing performances he had in 2007.

8. Curtis Painter, Purdue – It wasn’t the end Painter had envisioned to a record-setting career at Purdue. He finished second in the league in passing but really missed Dustin Keller and Dorien Bryant. Painter struggled to get the Boilermakers into the end zone and battled some injury problems late in the season. His incredible career numbers should not go unnoticed, but he never seemed to get over the hump against the Big Ten’s elite.

9. Dustin Sherer, Wisconsin – Sherer might have been higher on the list had he played a full season. The junior seemed to give Wisconsin a lift after replacing Allan Evridge as the starter on Oct. 18 at Iowa. Sherer went 4-2 as the starter and helped Wisconsin to wins in its final three games. His numbers weren’t stellar, but he avoided the critical mistakes that crippled Wisconsin earlier in the year.

10. Ben Chappell and Kellen Lewis, Indiana – These two shared duties this season, so they’ll share a spot as well. Chappell led Indiana to its only Big Ten win and showed some good leadership at times. Lewis had a rough season, throwing more interceptions (8) than touchdown passes (6) and sustaining an ankle injury. Though Indiana’s defense deserves most of the blame for a 3-9 season, the quarterback play wasn’t good.

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Filling out the Top 10 Big Ten games of 2008

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The response has been excellent for my list of the top five Big Ten games this season, so I’ve decided to extend the rundown to 10. Many of you made compelling arguments for games that should have been included in the top five, but I’m comfortable with my list.

I do think some other memorable contests should be recognized, so here’s the full rundown.

Recapping the top five (actually six):

1. Penn State at Iowa, Nov. 8, Kinnick Stadium (Iowa wins 24-23)
2. Penn State at Ohio State, Oct. 25, Ohio Stadium (Penn State wins 13-6)
3. Northwestern at Minnesota, Nov. 1, Metrodome (Northwestern wins 24-17)
4. Ohio State at Wisconsin, Oct. 4, Camp Randall Stadium (Ohio State wins 20-17)
T-5. Wisconsin at Michigan, Sept. 27, Michigan Stadium (Michigan wins 27-25)
T-5. Minnesota at Wisconsin, Nov. 15, Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin wins 35-32)

And here are games 6-10.

6. Wisconsin at Michigan State, Nov. 1, Spartan Stadium

I came very close to including this among the top five, but the fact that Michigan State played pretty poorly for the first 50 minutes or so kept it out. Still, the Spartans’ comeback and the Badgers’ collapse, which included a rare penalty on a head coach (Bret Bielema), made the game pretty memorable. Wisconsin dominated most of the game and was a holding penalty away from closing it out, but Michigan State capitalized on its final chance, driving 56 yards for the game-winning field goal with no timeouts remaining. Spartans kicker Brett Swenson went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 50-yarder and the decisive 44-yarder in the fourth quarter as Michigan State prevailed 25-24.

7. Michigan at Purdue, Nov. 1, Ross-Ade Stadium

In a league dominated by defense and running backs, Michigan and Purdue produced a game that would make the Big 12 proud. The teams combined for 90 points and 822 total yards. Michigan scored three touchdowns of 45 or longer (one rush, one pass, one punt return), and Purdue backup quarterback Justin Siller sizzled in his first career start. The game also produced arguably the Big Ten’s Play of the Year, as Purdue executed a hook-and-lateral from Siller to Greg Orton to Desmond Tardy, who scored with 26 seconds left to give the Boilers a 48-42 win.

8. Iowa at Illinois, Nov. 1, Memorial Stadium

It was a pretty sloppy game on both sides, but the final 21 minutes featured several edge-of-your seat moments. Illinois took control with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Fred Sykes and a seven-yard fumble return to the end zone by cornerback Dere Hicks. But Iowa struck back to tie the score at 24-24 on a Shonn Greene run with 2:46 left. It set the stage for Illinois to drive 54 yards in 12 plays, setting up a 46-yard field goal by freshman Matt Eller that secured a 27-24 win.

9. Illinois at Penn State, Sept. 27, Beaver Stadium

If you liked big plays and tremendous athleticism, this was the game for you. The teams combined for four touchdowns of 21 yards or longer, and Penn State wide receiver/return man Derrick Williams stole the show with 241 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns (one rush, one pass, one return). Illinois stayed close for most of the way behind quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn, but Penn State’s Williams proved to be too much on a “Whiteout” night in Happy Valley.

10. Minnesota at Illinois, Oct. 11, Memorial Stadium

The Golden Gophers completed their turnaround from 1-11 to bowl eligible with a tremendous defensive performance against Illinois. Minnesota senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg had arguably the league’s best individual defensive effort of the season, recording three sacks, a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown and a pass deflection that led to an interception in the fourth quarter. Minnesota held off Illinois’ big-play passing attack to win its first Big Ten road game since 2006.

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The top five Big Ten games of 2008

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

With the regular season in the books, it’s time to look back at the best Big Ten games from the 2008 season. What puts a game on this list? Great endings certainly help, and short- and long-term significance also increases a game’s appeal.

My only condition was that the game occurred between Big Ten teams. It was a fairly forgettable nonconference slate for the Big Ten, so I decided to confine the list to conference play.

Here’s my top five (OK, six). Please feel free to send me your nominations. Remember, conference games only.

1. Penn State at Iowa, Nov. 8, Kinnick Stadium

Not only did the game impact the national title race, but it featured a fairly dramatic shift and a thrilling finish. After falling behind early, Penn State controlled the clock and the game for most of the way, taking a 23-14 lead into the fourth quarter. But Iowa came alive late behind quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who overcame some early mistakes to attack the Big Ten’s top defense. Stanzi led the game-winning scoring drive, setting up a 31-yard field goal by Daniel Murray, an Iowa City native who hadn’t attempted a field goal since Sept. 20. Though the game took Penn State out of the national title mix, it might have turned around an Iowa program that had fallen off the last three years.

2. Penn State at Ohio State, Oct. 25, Ohio Stadium

Much like the Big Ten itself, the Penn State-Ohio State clash lacked the sexy offensive numbers and defense-optional feel that seemed to dominate college football this season. But this was a smart, well-played football game. Both defenses came to play and showed things that might not impress the average college fan but certainly made an impression on NFL scouts. In the end, it came down to the first major mistake, a fourth-quarter fumble by Ohio State freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who had played a solid game until that point. Despite losing starting quarterback Daryll Clark to a concussion, Penn State capitalized for the win.

3. Northwestern at Minnesota, Nov. 1, Metrodome

It’s pretty rare when you see a walk-off interception, but Northwestern safety Brendan Smith essentially pulled one off against the surging Golden Gophers. After several deflections, Smith intercepted an Adam Weber pass and raced to the end zone with 12 seconds left to give Northwestern a 24-17 victory. The game featured another defensive touchdown — on a Traye Simmons interception return — and a Big Ten record for quarterback rushing, as Northwestern backup Mike Kafka racked up 217 yards on the ground.

4. Ohio State at Wisconsin, Oct. 4, Camp Randall Stadium

When Terrelle Pryor’s college career is over, many will look back to this night as the start of something special. After Wisconsin took a 17-13 lead with 6:31 left, Pryor led a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive. He converted two third downs and a second-and-15, and also benefited from two fumble recoveries. Pryor scored the game-winning touchdown on a Badgers defensive breakdown with 1:08 left. Ohio State running back Chris “Beanie” Wells turned in a big performance (168 rush yards), and the Buckeyes snapped Wisconsin’s 16-game home win streak.

T-5 . Wisconsin at Michigan, Sept. 27, Michigan Stadium

After covering this game, I figured it would end up much higher on the end-of-year list, but both teams ended up going downhill. Still, the greatest comeback in Michigan Stadium history deserves a place here. Wisconsin totally dominated the first half, building a 19-0 lead on a hapless Michigan team that got booed by its own fans at halftime. But Michigan transformed after the break and Wisconsin lost its edge on defense. A Wolverines defensive touchdown proved to be the game-winner, though Wisconsin had a chance to tie at the end.

T-5 Minnesota at Wisconsin, Nov. 15, Camp Randall Stadium

The Badgers were on the wrong end of several heartbreaking losses this year, but they rallied to beat rival Minnesota in dramatic fashion. After Minnesota dominated the first half, Wisconsin responded behind running back P.J. Hill (117 rush yards, 2 TDs). The Badgers broke a 24-24 tie with back-to-back safeties and scored another touchdown before Minnesota struck back late. But a Niles Brinkley interception sealed an emotional win for Wisconsin and kept Paul Bunyan’s Axe in Madison.

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Reviewing my preseason Top 25 (things to watch)

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

It’s always fun at this time of year to look back at preseason thoughts and predictions. In August, I outlined 25 items I wanted to see during the Big Ten season. Several of them came true, others didn’t and some materialized in different ways.

Here’s a look back at the list to see what worked out and what didn’t. 

	AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
	Terrelle Pryor earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.

1. Terrelle Pryor lead an offensive drive — He might be a Tim Tebow-like weapon near the goal line, but I’m more interested in how the Ohio State freshman quarterback handles a real offensive series. Pryor’s athleticism is undeniable, but it will be important to monitor his passing accuracy and the way he leads older teammates.

The verdict: We had plenty of opportunities to see Pryor lead drives after he was named Ohio State’s starter in Week 4. Despite a few growing pains, Pryor held his own and displayed remarkable athleticism in winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. He also came up big in the clutch to lead Ohio State’s game-winning touchdown drive Oct. 4 at Wisconsin. 

2. Michigan’s quarterbacks — Rich Rodriguez has ushered in a new era in Ann Arbor and will turn to unproven players like Steven Threet, Nick Sheridan and possibly Justin Feagin to lead his spread offense. There will undoubtedly be growing pains, but if one of those three takes control, the Wolverines will surge.

The verdict: Oh, there were growing pains. Big ones. Threet and Sheridan struggled to fit into Rodriguez’s system, and Michigan finished the season ranked 109th nationally in total offense. Feagin likely will move to slot receiver in 2009, and incoming freshmen Shavodrick Beaver and Tate Forcier will compete for the starting quarterback spot. 

3. Jump Around at night — Camp Randall Stadium is intimidating enough during daylight hours, but the electricity will reach new levels this fall with back-to-back night games against Ohio State and Penn State. The Badgers haven’t lost at home under coach Bret Bielema, and they should have a tremendous home-field edge this fall.

The verdict: It was pretty cool to see Ohio State players jump in lockstep with the Wisconsin students on Oct. 4, but Camp Randall certainly lost its edge this fall. Wisconsin saw its home win streak fade against Ohio State and then suffered its worst home defeat since 1989 the next week against Penn State. Plus, the Badgers band was suspended from performing Oct. 4 after allegations of hazing surfaced. 

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